Safford, Arizona Flock camera contract, votes, and cost
On April 28, 2025, the Safford City Council voted unanimously to spend $80,734 in state grant funds on Flock Safety license plate readers. The contract renews annually. A $285,000 grant approved in June 2026 funds years two through four of the program.
- Status
- Active
- Vendor
- Flock Safety
- Value
- $80,734
- Term
- Annual, renewable (grant funding approved June 2026 for years two through four)
The City of Safford, Arizona operates license plate reader and surveillance cameras supplied by Flock Safety. On April 28, 2025, the City Council voted unanimously by voice vote, 6 to 0 with one member absent, to approve spending $80,734 in grant funds for year one of an annually renewable contract with Flock Safety Inc., covering license plate readers, surveillance cameras, and the company’s online system. The purchase was fully funded by an $85,000 Border Assistance Fund grant provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and was made as a sole-source procurement. Police Captain Tyler Cluff told the council the department would return annually for approval, and City Manager John Cassella noted that if future grants were not received, the council would need to approve funding to keep the cameras operating.
In June 2026, the council approved a $285,000 grant to fund years two through four of the program, following public discussion of privacy concerns and oversight. On July 28, 2026, the council heard nearly four hours of public comment and took no action. During that meeting, reporting by the Gila Herald attributed to council discussion the claim that the system had been implemented under the previous city manager without council involvement; the April 2025 minutes document a council vote approving the grant-funded purchase.
As of August 2026, the Safford Police Department’s Flock transparency portal reports a 30 day data retention period, 47,569 unique vehicles detected over the prior 30 days, and data sharing with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thatcher Police Department. Listed prohibited uses include immigration enforcement, traffic enforcement, harassment or intimidation, use based solely on a protected class, and personal use.
Council-Minutes-Monday-April-28-2025-6pm
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